The Walter Lundie Memorial Hockey Tournament is returning to Churchill, Manitoba this March 2026, as part of the community’s annual winter celebrations. Held at the Town Centre Complex arena, the event honours a local hockey legend and brings hundreds of visitors to the northern town.
The tournament is named after Walter Lundie, a local hockey star who was known by his nickname Geronimo for his famous slapshot. His granddaughter, Heather Botelho, organizes the three-day competition which draws players and their families from across the region for games and social events.
While some teams travel from towns like Stonewall and Neepawa, others have made the 12-hour trip from Arviat, Nunavut, by snowmobile because flying can cost upwards of $4,500 per person. About 200 players and fans attend the tournament, which acts as a large family reunion for the town of roughly 900 residents.
The games take place during the Aurora Winterfest, a three-week festival supported by Manitoba Hydro. This celebration of northern culture also includes dog sled races, snowmobile competitions, and community feasts.
All tournament games are played in the local arena, which is part of a large community building that also contains the school, library, and health centre. For those who cannot attend in person, the tournament is typically shared online so residents can watch the hockey action from home.
